-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A tiger mauled a caretaker who was cleaning its cage , clamping the woman 's head in its mouth during the attack at an Indiana animal rescue shelter .

The woman is in critical condition after the attack Friday at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point , Indiana .

The facility confirmed an incident involving an employee and a tiger , but declined to provide specifics , saying it does not want to discuss the incident with the media .

In a statement , the Clay County Sheriff 's Office provided more details on the attack .

The victim was cleaning cages when a worker nearby heard her screaming , Sheriff Rob Gambill said in a statement .

When the employee ran over to help , she discovered the tiger had her head in its mouth .

Joe Taft , the director of the facility , sprayed the 18-year-old tiger named Raja in the face with a hose to loosen its grip before it was eventually lured away with food .

The victim , who is in her early twenties , was air-lifted to an Indianapolis hospital .

Authorities said the tiger escaped its holding area because a door was not properly shut .

Taft said the victim had `` a fair amount of experience '' working with cats and had previously interacted with that very tiger .

It is one of about 130-140 tigers living at the facility .

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The victim was cleaning cages when a worker nearby heard her screaming

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The 18-year-old tiger named Raja was eventually lured away with food

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The victim , who is in her early twenties , was air lifted to an Indianapolis hospital